Our tea-drinking friends in the U.K. have recently discovered tea has a
very significant stress reducing quality. According to researchers from
the University College London, men
who drank black tea four times per day for six weeks had significantly
lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol as compared with a control
group. In the study of 75 men, half consumed either a
fruit-flavored caffeinated tea mixture made up of the usual
constituents of a cup of black tea, or, a caffeinated substitute
identical in taste but without the active tea ingredients. At the end
of the six weeks the men were given a series of stress inducing tests
to perform. Fifty minutes after the tests, cortisol levels had fallen
an average of 47 percent among the tea drinkers, compared to 27 percent
in the fake tea group.

According to new research findings, men consuming large amounts of
citrus fruits and other vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables
significantly lower their risk of developing premalignant lesions. Past
research has show that 16 to 40 percent of these premalignant lesions
turn cancerous. In the study, researchers included more than 42,000 men
who completed questionnaires at various intervals. Their
findings indicated that men who consumed greater amounts of citrus
fruits and juices as well as fruit and vegetables high in Vitamin C
lowered their risk of oral precancerous lesions by 30 to 40 percent.

Author: ChiroPlanet.comSource: American Journal of Epidemiology. September 2006.Copyright: ChiroPlanet.com 2006

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 4.2 million
workplace-related illnesses and injuries, musculoskeletal disorders
(neck pain, back pain, etc.) accounted for 32 percent and cost
employers an estimated $60 billion annually. Given that and in
celebration of National Chiropractic Month (October) we’d like to share
with our patients some useful workplace prevention tips as offered by
our friends at the American Chiropractic Association (ACA):

- While working at a computer, sit with your knees at approximately a
90- to 120-degree angle. Using an angled foot rest to support
your feet may help you sit more comfortably. - Make sure your
chair fits correctly. Allow for two inches between the front edge
of the seat and the back of your knees. Your knees should be at
or below the level of your hips. - When lifting heavy or
awkward items, don’t lift by bending over. Instead, bend your hips and
knees and then squat to pick up the object. Keep your back straight,
and hold the object close to your body. Don’t twist your body
while lifting. - If you must sit for long periods, take frequent breaks and stretch. - Exercise regularly. Staying physically fit, strong and flexible helps you avoid back injuries.

Furthermore, the ACA added, "The ACA is encouraging employers, government officials and health care executives to consider
chiropractic care for the prevention and treatment of workplace
injuries. A number of workers compensation studies have shown that the
use of chiropractic care for acute and chronic lower-back pain can be
more effective and less costly than traditional medical care – getting
employees back on the job in less time than other treatment options.
Furthermore, chiropractic can be an effective treatment option for
carpal tunnel, neck pain, joint pain, headaches and other
neuromusculoskeletal conditions."

In a survey of approximately 400
randomly selected chiropractors, 40 percent reported experiencing
various injuries while working on their own patients. Most
injuries were soft tissue in nature and included wrist/hand/finger
injuries in 43 percent, and shoulder injuries as well as lower back
injuries in approximately 25 percent. Moreover, approximately two
thirds of the injuries occurred while performing chiropractic
adjustments/manipulation. So while chiropractic care has clearly been
shown to be extremely safe for patients, the same cannot be said for
those chiropractors performing chiropractic care.